04/01/2022
In her first adult novel, YA author Heltzel (Charlie, Presumed Dead) introduces cousins Maeve and Andrea as children living in a matriarchal cult. The novel then flashes forward to an adult Maeve, who has escaped the cult and become a successful book editor, except that she is completely alone (save for a casual boyfriend and work friends). With no family and a murky past, Maeve deeply misses Andrea, who she hasn't seen since leaving the cult. Then a DNA test reunites the cousins, and Andrea, now the wealthy CEO of a female-focused wellness empire, rushes back into Maeve's life, offering her love, family, even wealth—but it may all be too good to be true. Maeve's strong first-person narration (including scenes from her past that flood back to her) keeps the story moving and helps readers to both understand and root for Maeve, as her world begins to dangerously unravel. Readers might think they have the twists figured out, even as Maeve is clearly a few steps behind, but this hubris would be a grave mistake. Flooded with visceral dread from the first scene and never letting up, Heltzel's tale that will disturb readers to their core. VERDICT An excellent suggestion for fans of cult stories or intense horror-thriller hybrids such as those by Sarah Pinborough.—Becky Spratford
GoodReads Choice Award Finalist for Best Horror!
Named one of the Best Books of 2022 by LitReactor!
“Heltzel's novel bursts onto the scene with all the power and gore of a home birth. With unforgettable characters and details that will haunt your dreams, Just Like Mother is set to be one of the year's most talked about books. I tore through this urgent, timely, and deeply disturbing tale....and I'll think of it every time I field an uncomfortable question about my own childless status.” —Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here
"A fierce, frightening novel that examines autonomy, motherhood, and the dark side of feminine power with savage precision. Just Like Mother is a total thrill ride. Buckle up and be warned — there's no calling for Mommy." —Rachel Harrison, author of The Return
“Tautly paced and sharp as a scalpel, Just Like Mother grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. This book offers a dark and searing look at the societal expectations placed on women and mothers, and the lengths some will go to meet them. I devoured this book.” —Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows
“As compulsively readable as it is genuinely terrifying, Just Like Mother expertly weaves together themes of motherhood, trauma, and the perversion of feminism. It will sink its teeth into you as much for its incisive social commentary as for its deliciously gruesome horror.” —Jessie Gaynor, author of The Glow
“Eerie, fast-paced ... Heltzel’s probing exploration of women’s bodily autonomy—or lack thereof—makes this a solid choice for those who like their horror close to home.” —Publishers Weekly
“A fast-paced, creepy, and unpredictable adventure that shines an unsettling light on motherhood and family ties. A page-turner from start to finish.” —Booklist
“Flooded with visceral dread from the first scene and never letting up, Heltzel’s tale will disturb readers to their core.” —Library Journal
“Heltzel’s writing keeps the reader glued to the page.” —Strange Horizons
"Heltzel takes readers on a timely psychological journey that explores women’s rights, pregnancy, and the long-lasting effects of patriarchal power and domesticity."—LitReactor
"A modern nod to Rosemary’s Baby with a decidedly feminist slant....Heltzel brilliantly explores the intense pressure on women to become mothers." —Electric Literature
“Twisted, elegantly macabre, and brilliantly subversive, Just Like Mother delivers a searing commentary on the damage done to women by putting motherhood on a pedestal and equating feminine identity with bearing children. It got under my skin in the very best way; I'll be thinking about it for weeks (especially at night).” —Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Payback's a Witch
“Full of dark secrets and even darker deeds, Just Like Mother grabbed me from the start. Heltzel has tapped into a deep-rooted and disturbing cultural nightmare.” —Nicholas Kaufmann, bestselling author of The Hungry Earth
“An astonishing, chilling meditation on the sharp-toothed joys of motherhood.” —Livia Llewellyn, Edgar Award-winning author
“A visceral and disturbing ride, Just Like Mother dives deep into the extremes of feminism and motherhood through the lens of true horror. Anne Heltzel is a master.” —Amy Lukavics, author of Daughters unto Devils
“A chilling look at modern motherhood, friendship, and what it means to be a woman. I thought about it long after reading the last page.” —Danielle Vega, author of The Merciless and The Haunted
“Totally addictive. Twisty, dark, impossible to put down ... a classic, down and dirty horror, ferrying a damaged, winningly prickly heroine ever further into the realms of her deepest fears. I was terrified and obsessed.” —Anna Godbersen, New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe series
“Lyrical and grotesque, Just Like Mother is written in gorgeous and shattering prose.” —CrimeReads
09/01/2022
Maeve and her cousin Andrea were raised in a cult called The Motherhood Collective, though they lost touch when the group's criminal activities came to light and the girls were taken into foster care. Now living in New York City and working in publishing, Maeve reconnects with Andrea, now a wealthy lifestyle guru, through a DNA website. A series of unfortunate events (among them, she loses her job and the man she's about to move in with dies in a building fire) leads to her living with Andrea and her husband in their enormous Hudson Valley estate. The more time she spends there, however, the more Maeve comes to realize that there's something deeply strange and possibly sinister going on with Andrea. Heltzel's (Charlie, Presumed Dead) latest revolves around a cult of motherhood that puts women's own needs and desires far below their ability to reproduce. Though some of the plot details require a pretty hefty suspension of disbelief, listeners who buy in will have a creepy good time. Elizabeth Evans does a solid job narrating, though secondary characters are minimally differentiated. VERDICT A good choice for fans of cult stories and horror about motherhood.—Stephanie Klose
